12. Amber

Chapter 12

Amber

I have to admit, when Xavier first got undressed, which had to be the most unsexy striptease I had ever seen, I almost swallowed my tongue. Kevin, nor any of my previous boyfriends, had ever been well-endowed by any stretch of anyone's imagination, though they thought they were the cocks of the walk. They could barely handle themselves, much less get a girl off. And forget about directions. Even with directions, GPS, a map and a tutor, he couldn't find my clit, a g-spot or anything else to bring me to the promised land. And he sure as hell never knew the difference between me faking it or the real thing, not that I ever experienced the real thing with him unless it was by accident, though fantasies about Thor or Iron Man, and a judicious use of some toys or my fingers.

Xavier was definitely bigger than I expected, and one question was answered when I explored him. He was not rough stone as the rest of him, but more like smooth marble. He was hard, but smooth, and definitely larger than I expected. But, based on how considerate he'd been about my feelings so far, I suspected he knew how to use it to bring a girl some serious joy. And I was eager to get this show on the road.

Xavier followed me onto the bed, and he took over. He took my wrists in one hand and pinned them over my head. "No touching."

He took my lips in another deep kiss, but didn't linger there for long. He nibbled down my throat again, reigniting the heat that burned inside of me, flaring to life again. I arched into his kiss, silently begging for him to move lower, to stop teasing me, and he accommodated me. He traced his dark tongue along the lace of my bra, teasing the edges, dipping between the mounds and up the other side. Finally, he sucked a tip into his mouth through the lace, and I moaned loudly. The sensation of his hot breath on my sensitive skin combined with the friction of the lace was too much.

I shifted beneath him, trying to get closer, but he held me steady. "No," he growled, and it sent a shiver down my spine. "I'm in charge here."

His fingers deftly undid the clasp at the back, and I gasped as he dragged it away from my body. He caught his breath as he looked down at my bared chest, and desire blazed in his eyes. He released my hands, and I buried them in his hair, tugging him close.

"You are so beautiful," he murmured, and then he leaned down again, taking one nipple into his mouth.

The feeling of his teeth gently scraping against my skin while his tongue danced around my sensitive peak sent waves of pleasure coursing through me. I arched up into him again, pleading for him to continue. He complied gladly, switching to my other breast and showering it with the same intensity. I gripped the sheets beneath me, my fingers digging in as the sensations built up inside me.

As he continued his exploration, my heart pounded, and my emotions were a whirlwind of desire and uncertainty. My thoughts kept going back to the question of what this meant for us – for our future together. But for now, all that mattered was the heat of his body pressing against mine, the gentle sound of his breathing, and the feel of his skin against mine.

Xavier's hands moved lower, tracing a path over my belly, down to my hips, and then continuing even lower. He spread my legs open further, exposing me to him completely. I felt him position himself at my entrance, his cock feeling impossibly large.

"Are you ready?" he asked in a gruff voice, his eyes locked onto mine as he readied himself.

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. "Yes," I whispered.

He smiled, a hint of relief mixed with desire in his eyes. "I've got you," he said, his voice deep and smooth as he slowly pushed inside me.

He went slowly, gently, letting me adjust to his size. He was easily the largest male I had been with and, as I stretched to accommodate him, I worried it wouldn't fit. He paused, his eyes fixed on me, then his hand worked its way between us to rub against my clit, the sensation sending shockwaves through me. I gasped and tightened against him; the climax ripping through me unexpectedly.

When I came down from the sharp orgasm, Xavier was waiting patiently, watching me with a smirk on his face. He tenderly brushed the hair from my face and kissed me. "Ready?"

I couldn't imagine it getting any better, but I nodded. He advanced further, helped by my recent orgasm. The sensation was overwhelming, both pleasurable and a bit painful at first, but he moved slowly, giving me time to adjust. As he moved deeper inside me, I relaxed around him, our bodies melding together, the heat of our passion igniting something within me that I had never felt before. Finally, he was fully seated, and he pulled out, the friction making my eyes roll back in my head. He repeated the motion, and I moaned as he hit spots that I had only read about.

"Harder," I moaned, unable to resist the urge to pull him closer. He obliged, thrusting into me with renewed vigor. Each movement brought with it a wave of pleasure that washed over me, leaving me breathless and eager for more. His eyes never left mine, as if he wanted to make sure I was still with him, still enjoying this intimate moment we shared. And I was. With every thrust, every touch, every kiss, I felt myself sinking deeper into him, into this world of pure bliss that I never wanted to leave.

The rhythm of our lovemaking quickened, the sounds of our passion filling the room.

"You're amazing," he murmured again, his voice rough with emotion. "I've waited so long for this. So long for you, my mate."

I gripped him tighter, feeling the muscles in his body tensing as he pushed deeper within me. His hands held me steady, his touch both gentle and possessive. The sensation was overwhelming—a mix of pleasure and fulfillment that I had never experienced before. I felt a surge of warmth in my core, building up into a climax that threatened to consume me entirely. I knew it was close, just on the horizon, and I whimpered softly as it grew closer.

"That's it," Xavier whispered in my ear, his voice full of passion and desire. "Let go. Let me take care of you."

My eyes remained locked with his as the world around me faded away, leaving just us in this moment of pure ecstasy. Xavier's movements grew more frantic, each thrust pushing me closer and closer to the edge.

And then it happened. A wave of pure bliss washed over me, consuming me entirely as I cried out his name in pleasure. Xavier groaned in response, his body shuddering against mine as he found his release within me. His murmured words of love and devotion filled the air, wrapping around us like a cocoon of emotion.

As we came down from our peaks, I wrapped my arms around him tightly, treasuring the feel of his skin against mine. Our hearts beat in unison, pulsing with the same rhythm of passion and love that now connected us forevermore.

Xavier traced gentle kisses along my jawline and down to my neck, as he slowly pulled away from me. I shivered at his touch, feeling completely drained and yet rejuvenated all at once. This was something new for me, something I had never experienced before.

He tucked me against his body, gently stroking my skin, the roughness of his fingers making me shiver. "Are you all right?" he asked softly, his voice full of concern. "You're quiet."

"I'm just trying to process everything. It was amazing."

He nodded. "I know it's a lot to take in," he said gently. "The mate bond makes everything more powerful, stronger. But I want you to know that I am here for you, no matter what you decide."

The mate bond. Damn it. I had forgotten about that. Did having sex now meant we were bonded together? That we could never be apart? I didn't know how I felt about that. I hadn't really thought that far ahead and wasn't sure I was ready for a lifetime commitment, not when my life was such a chaotic mess so far.

As if interpreting my panic, Xavier pulled me closer and leaned down to press a soft kiss against my forehead. "The bond is not final. You still have a choice before you."

"So we didn't finalize anything?" I found that hard to believe. I never had an experience like I had with Xavier before. Sex had always been good, but not great. Not almost transformative, as this felt. It had to mean something.

He gave me a sad smile. "Accepting the mate bond involves more than having sex. There has to be a conscious choice, a decision on your part to accept the bond."

A wave of relief swept over me. I wasn't ready to accept the bond, not without understanding what it meant. And I still couldn't believe that I got swept away by my emotions so quickly, jumping into bed with Xavier so quickly. That was so not like me. Something magical was afoot.

"I'm glad to hear that. Not that I am rejecting you. I just need more time. We have seven days, right?" I asked, figuring now was as good a time as any to confirm the details of the curse.

He glanced away. "Yes, you have a week. At the end of that time, if the bond is not complete, you will be banished."

His tone was flat, not the soft, romantic one that I had become accustomed to for this evening. And it bothered me. "You haven't told me how it will affect you if we don't complete the bond."

He smiled at me then, a sad look that somehow also seemed brave. "The sun is rising. I need to return to the roof. We should clean up before the morning shift arrives."

And as the first light of dawn filtered through the small window, casting its golden hue over us, I felt like Xavier had ducked my question. Rook and Jenny told me what Xavier gained through the mating and what the curse would cost Rook if it failed. Could Xavier die? Why wouldn't he tell me?

"I know the curse can cause death. Rook told me that. Can it do that to you?" I insisted.

Xavier paused without looking at me. "Rook shouldn't have interfered. It doesn't cause death. It only magnifies our natures. In Rook's case, he would only be able to drink Jenny's blood. With her gone, he would starve."

I stepped in front of Xavier, forcing him to look at me. "And in your case?"

"I turn to stone."